[URL="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=5564031&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines&service=bit.ly&source=espn"][IMG]http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=5564031&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines[/IMG][/URL]Two weeks before they had quarterback Tom Brady under contract, the New England Patriots nearly signed Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins.